Frequently Asked Questions

Version: 1.35 (last revised 1997/05/24)

This document is quite long (about 1600 lines) and you may wish to save it as a file or print it out. It will be easiest to refer to this document as a web page, at http://www.cais.net/cfs-news/faq.htm. To read how to obtain the latest version of this document, and for e-mail readers who cannot receive it as one large file, see Section 0.03 below.  Due to the length of this resource....I am only going to list what is available at this site. 

 The entire CFS FAQ can be found by clicking on CFS FAQ.

The CFS FAQ is copyright (c) 1997 by Roger Burns on behalf of the CFS Internet Group. Permission is granted to redistribute or quote this document for non-commercial purposes provided that you include an attribution to the CFS Internet group, the contact address of CFS-L-REQUEST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU, the FAQ's version number and date, and at least two locations from which a current version of this FAQ may be retrieved (see Section 0.03). For any other use, permission must be obtained in writing from Roger Burns (CFS-L-REQUEST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU).

C O N T E N T S

Part 0: Administrivia
0.00 Copyright
0.01 Introduction
0.02 Disclaimer
0.03 Where to get the current version of this FAQ

Part 1: General
1.01 What is CFS?
1.02 What causes CFS?
1.03 Is CFS a "real" disease?
1.04 Who gets CFS?
1.05 Shouldn't this illness have a better name?

Part 2: Medical issues
2.01 How do I find good medical care for CFS?
2.02 What symptoms are used to diagnose CFS?
2.021 CFS definition
2.022 Clinical views
2.03 What are the specific treatments available for CFS?
2.031 Avoid stress
2.032 Medications
2.033 Role of exercise
2.034 Dietary changes
2.035 Secondary problems
2.036 Article references
2.04 What is the role of stress in CFS?
2.05 What research is currently going on?
2.06 How does CFS usually begin?
2.07 How long can CFS last?
2.08 Is CFS contagious?
2.09 Is CFS genetic?
2.10 Do people die from CFS?
2.11 Is CFS related to depression?
2.12 Is CFS related to AIDS?
2.13 Does CFS increase the likelihood of cancer?
2.14 How does CFS affect children?
2.15 How does CFS relate to pregnancy?
2.16 How does CFS relate to other similar illnesses such as fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, Gulf War syndrome, neurally mediated hypotension, Lyme disease, candida, etc.)?
2.17 How does CFS relate specifically to fibromyalgia?
2.18 How does CFS relate to neurally mediated hypotension?
2.19 How does CFS relate to the Epstein-Barr virus?

Part 3: Life problems created by CFS
3.01 How does one live with CFS? 3.02 How do I find support groups?

Part 4: Income security: Job and/or disability benefits
4.01 How do I handle problems about my job?
4.02 What problems do I face in seeking disability benefits?

Part 5: CFS information resources
5.01 What other FAQs are available?
5.02 What books are available?
5.03 What newsletters and magazines are available?
5.04 What CFS resources are available on Internet and Usenet?
5.05 What CFS resources are available on other electronic networks? 5.06 What national organizations are there?

Part 6: Important information
6.01 What else is important for me to know about CFS?
6.02 What is "May 12 / International Awareness Day"?

Appendices
A1. Articles on-line
A2. Common abbreviations
A3. Further information
A4. Changes to this edition
A5. Development of this FAQ
A6. Credits

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